Patrick Grant drew a crowd of more than 350 people for the headline event of the inaugural Macclesfield Textile Week.

The Silk Museum welcomed the Great British Sewing Bee judge on Wednesday, September 23, for a landmark day celebrating Macclesfield's rich textile heritage and vibrant creative communities.

The visit culminated in a sold-out show at King's School as hundreds of people gathered to hear him speak, snap photos, and secure signed copies of his acclaimed book, LESS.

Ahead of the evening talk, Community Clothing founder Patrick took a tour of the Silk Museum and Paradise Mill.

The museum's director, Doctor Clare Harding, said: "We were just thrilled to welcome Patrick.

"His unmatched expertise and infectious passion for sustainable manufacturing align so deeply with our mission here in Macclesfield.

"He was incredibly kind and generous, taking the time to explore and understand what we do here at the museum."

Dr Harding added: "Seeing the community come out in such huge numbers for his talk shows just how much appetite there is for celebrating textiles here in Macclesfield"

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While visiting, Patrick explored Paradise Mill, Macclesfield's last working silk mill and a surviving piece of the town's mighty industrial history.

He experienced the authentic factory-floor experience firsthand and witnessed the museum's ongoing preservation work, to breathe new life into the historic space.

While there, he met with young weavers Bea Uprichard and Ruth Farris of Fishbone and Sycamore, alongside weavers-in-residence Eleanor Godfrey and Clare Malley, discussing modern craftsmanship and the future of weaving.

During the visit, he also met with head curator Kathryn Warburton and a team of dedicated museum volunteers.

His tour concluded with a look at the Macclesfield History Tapestry, with artists Becca Smith and Ailsa Holland.

READ MORE: Major exhibition celebrating the Bayeux Tapestry and Macclesfield's history opens at the Silk Museum

Macclesfield Textile Week continues until Sunday, September 27.

The programme features a packed schedule of exhibitions, workshops, and events across the town.

You can find out more by visiting the Silk Museum website.

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